JP2000295562A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a digital camera where deletion of an image file whose print-out is designated can properly be prevented without losing the substantial convenience of the DPOF standard in the application of the DPOF standard to the digital camera and setting of print designation of the digital camera can suitably be made. SOLUTION: A memory card 64 records the image file of an image picked-up by a digital camera 10, the digital camera 10 sets the number of prints of each image file in accordance with the DPOF standard and the memory card stores the number as a print information file. In the case of setting the number of prints, an attribute of an image file to which at least one print or over is designated is selected as a read only attribute so as to prevent deletion of the image file in spite of its print designation. Furthermore, the digital camera 10 has a mode where print designation is set to all frames in a lot.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly, to a digital camera capable of creating and recording print information such as the number of printed images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, recording of a digital image taken by a digital camera is generally performed on a recording medium (removable medium) such as a removable memory card or a magnetic disk. Images recorded on recording media are often viewed not only on a monitor but also on a personal printer for home use, and recently, a photo film has been ordered by a lab. It is also becoming possible to receive print services similar to.

[0003] With the spread of digital cameras in recent years, it is expected that the chances of printing with such personal printers and laboratory print services will increase.
A standard called F (Digital Print Order Format) has been announced.

[0004] The DPOF standard digitizes print information for print creation such as the number of prints and trimming.
The print information is stored in a recording medium together with the image file, and the recording format of the image file and the print information is unified. In particular, a file storing print information (referred to as a DPOF file but referred to as a print information file in the present specification) is described in a text file format, and is recorded on a recording medium as one file separate from an image file. Is stipulated.

Recording print information together with image files on a recording medium by a digital camera or related equipment in accordance with such a standard is required when printing with a personal printer or when ordering a print from a laboratory print service. This is effective in that it is not necessary to specify how many images are to be printed or what kind of trimming to print. Further, even if the printer does not have an image reproducing function, it is possible to print a desired number of frame images in a desired number, and there is an advantage that it is not necessary to provide the printer with an image reproducing function.

[0006]

However, the DPO
In operating the F standard, the print information is not added to the image file but is recorded as a print information file separate from the image file in a text file format. It is possible to delete regardless of.
Therefore, if the image file can be freely deleted, the image file is inadvertently deleted, and there is no image file designated for print in the print information (one or more prints are designated). A situation may occur.

As a method for preventing such a situation, it is conceivable to correct print information at the same time as deleting an image file. However, according to this method, it is necessary to confirm and correct the contents of the print information every time the image file is deleted, which causes a load on the processing by the digital camera, and causes a drawback such as a slow operation.

As another method, the presence or absence of a print designation is written in the tag information of the image file, and when deleting the image file, the tag information is referred to so that the print information is not referred to. Processing is also conceivable. However, this method has no effect on a camera that does not specify the operation of tag information, and also has print information not only in a print information file but also in an image file, so that the information in the recording medium is redundant. There is a disadvantage that waste is increased.

On the other hand, in the case where the print designation can be made by the digital camera as described above, if the print designation can be made only for each frame, a troublesome work is required when all the frames are to be designated. There is. In particular, it is considered that many users want to print one frame at a time, as in the case of simultaneous printing on a photo film. Therefore, it is necessary to easily provide the same service as that for simultaneous printing in a digital camera. is there.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in operating a DPOF standard in a digital camera, it is possible to appropriately delete an image file designated for printing without impairing the inherent convenience of the DPOF standard. It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital camera capable of appropriately setting print designation in the digital camera.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera for recording an image of each frame picked up by an image pickup means as an image file on a recording medium. Print information creating means for creating print information for each frame referenced when printing an image recorded on a medium; and print information for each frame created by the print information creating means.
A print information recording means for recording on the recording medium as one print information file; and at least one or more prints are designated by information on the number of prints of each frame among print information created by the print information creating means. Attribute changing means for changing the image file of the frame designated for printing from a normal file attribute that can be deleted / changed to a read-only file attribute that can be read only.

According to the present invention, since the image file of a frame designated for printing is automatically changed to a read-only file attribute, it is ensured that the image file of a frame designated for printing is inadvertently deleted. Can be prevented.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the image of each frame picked up by the image pickup means and information on the number of prints of each frame referred to when the image is printed are recorded on a recording medium. In a digital camera provided with a display unit for displaying an image, a reproduction function for displaying only an image for which one or more prints are designated by the information on the number of prints on the display unit is provided.

According to the present invention, an image of a frame designated for printing can be quickly confirmed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera for recording, on a recording medium, an image of each frame picked up by an image pickup means and information on the number of prints of each frame referred to when printing the image. A total frame print number setting unit for setting the number of prints for all frame images recorded on the recording medium at once.

According to the present invention, the operation for designating the printing of all the frames is facilitated, and the same service as that of the simultaneous printing of the photo film can be easily received.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a digital camera according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are a front view, a plan view, and a rear view showing the appearance of a digital camera according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a photographing lens 12, a finder window 14, a strobe 16, a strobe light control sensor 18, and the like are provided in front of the digital camera 10. A CCD (image pickup device), not shown, is arranged behind the taking lens 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the upper surface of the digital camera 10, a release button 22 and a power switch 24 are provided. The release button 22 is of a two-stage type, and is automatically pressed (AF) and automatic exposure control (AE) in a "half-pressed" state in which the release button 22 is lightly pressed and stopped.
Is operated to lock the AF and AE, and the photographing is executed in a state of "full press" from "half press".

As shown in FIG. 3, a liquid crystal display panel 26 for displaying characters, a liquid crystal monitor 28, a mode switch 30, and a cross cursor button (up / down) are provided on the back of the digital camera 10.
Down key and left / right key) 32 and finder 34
Are provided.

The character display liquid crystal display panel 26 displays information relating to the state of the camera, the shooting mode, and the like. , Macro mode display, recording image quality (quality) display, pixel number display, and the like.

A strobe button 36 and a macro button 38 are arranged beside the liquid crystal display panel 26 for character display, and the strobe button 36 is a setting button for turning on or off the strobe in accordance with a shooting situation. The macro button 38 is a button for setting a short-distance (macro) shooting mode.

The liquid crystal monitor 28 displays an image photographed through a CCD, a reproduced image read from a memory card (smart media) loaded in the camera, and the like, and also sets print information described later. This is performed using the liquid crystal monitor 28. Above the LCD monitor 28, a shift button 40, a display button 42, a cancel button 44, and a menu / execute button 46 are arranged.

The mode switch 30 and the cross cursor button 32 are composed of a central button member and a ring member disposed on the outer periphery thereof.
It is rotatable in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

The mode switch 30 changes the function (mode) of the camera. By rotating the mode switch 30, for example, a shooting mode for performing shooting,
It is possible to select a mode such as a reproduction mode in which a captured image is reproduced and various settings are made.

The cross cursor button 32 is tilted by pressing one of the upper, lower, left, and right edges, so that instructions in four corresponding directions (up, down, right, left) can be input. It is used as an operation button for selecting various setting items in the setting of mode and the like, and for instructing to change the setting contents, and also for adjusting the magnification of the electronic zoom, instructing the movement of the center of the zoom, and instructing the forward / return of the playback frame. It is used as a means to do.

Although not shown, a holder for mounting a memory card is provided on one side of the digital camera 10. For example, smart media is used as the type of the memory card. The recording medium is not limited to this, and may be a PC card, flash memory card, IC
Card, floppy disk, magneto-optical disk (MO)
Other types may be used.

The memory card stores images photographed by the CCD. In the digital camera 10, the image of each frame photographed by the CCD is recorded according to the recording format of the DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) standard. In addition to recording the data as an image file, the print information of the image of each frame is recorded as a print information file (DPOF file). The print information is referred to when printing the image recorded on the memory card.
For example, information on the number of prints, trimming, and the like can be recorded, and print information of each frame is described in a single print information file in a text file format. In this embodiment, the number of prints can be set as print information.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera 10. As shown in FIG. The digital camera 10 includes:
Primarily, the taking lens 12, the aperture 50, and the solid-state image sensor (C
It has a CD) 52, an analog signal processing circuit 54, a digital signal processing circuit 58, a memory (DRAM) 60, a compression / expansion circuit 62, a memory card 64, a liquid crystal monitor 28, a central processing unit (CPU) 66, and the like.

The CPU 66 controls the release button 22,
Each circuit is generally controlled based on signal inputs from switches 68 such as the mode switch 30 and the cross cursor button 32. Now, when the power switch 24 is turned on, the CP
U66 sends a command to the power supply control circuit 70,
Power supply control circuit 7 from primary battery or secondary battery 72
Power is supplied to each part of the camera via the “0” to enable each circuit to operate.

Here, when the mode switch 30 is operated to set the camera to the photographing mode and the release button 22 is pressed,
The CPU 66 detects this and sends a command to the control circuit 74. The control circuit 74 drives the photographing lens driving unit 76 with power supplied from the power supply control circuit 70 to perform focus control, and also controls exposure by controlling the charge accumulation time in the aperture 50 and the CCD 52. Note that the photographing lens 12 can be driven to zoom by a zoom command.

Through the photographing lens 12 and the aperture 50, CC
The subject light incident on the light receiving surface of D52
2 are converted into signal charges of an amount corresponding to the amount of light incident on each sensor, and the signal charges are sequentially read out as voltage signals (image signals) corresponding to the signal charges based on clock pulses. The image signal output from the CCD 52 is applied to an analog signal processing circuit 54. The analog signal processing circuit 54 includes a CDS clamp, a gain control amplifier, and the like, and performs sampling of an image signal, white balance adjustment, and the like. The image signal processed by the analog signal processing circuit 54 is supplied to the A / D converter 5.
At 6, the digital signals are converted into R, G, B digital signals and are applied to the digital signal processing circuit 58.

The digital signal processing circuit 58 includes a gamma correction circuit, a YC signal generation circuit, etc., and performs gamma correction of the R, G, and B digital signals, and YC signals of the R, G, and B signals (the luminance signal Y and the chroma signal). Processing such as conversion into a signal C) is performed, and the YC signal is stored in the memory 60 via the bus. The YC signal stored in the memory 60 is transferred to a compression / expansion circuit 62 via a bus, compressed by the compression / expansion circuit 62 into a predetermined format, and recorded on a memory card 64 detachable from the camera. The image data of each frame is recorded on the memory card 64 as an image file.

The YC signal generated by the digital signal processing circuit 58 is externally output from a video output terminal via a D / A converter 78, and the digital camera 1
0 is output to a liquid crystal monitor 28 installed on the back of the camera.
Thus, in the photographing mode, an image captured by the CCD 52 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 28. In the reproduction mode, the image recorded on the memory card 64 is decompressed by the compression / expansion circuit 62, then output to the liquid crystal monitor 28, and the reproduced image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 28.

Next, the operation and processing when the mode of the digital camera 10 is set to the reproduction mode by the mode switch 30 will be described. This digital camera 1
0, the number of prints at the time of printing can be set as print information for the image file of each frame recorded on the memory card 64 as described above, and the print information is stored in the memory card 64 together with the image file. It can be recorded. The creation of such print information (the number of prints) is based on the above-mentioned DPOF.
This is performed according to the standard, and print information on each frame is described in a text information format in one print information file separate from the image file. Hereinafter, operations and processes related to creation of print information will be described.

First, when the mode switch 30 is set to the reproduction mode, the reproduced image of the last shot frame is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 28. Here, when a menu / execute button 46 (hereinafter simply referred to as an execute button 46) is pressed,
On the liquid crystal monitor 28, a reproduction menu screen as shown in FIG. In the figure, the display contents of the reproduced image are omitted (the same applies hereinafter). In the lower section of the playback menu screen, icons for selecting various menus are displayed. By operating the cross cursor button 32 to move the cursor to the icon on the right end and pressing the execution button 46, a print designation mode is set. A print menu screen as shown in A) is displayed.

On the print menu screen, print designation related items such as "frame setting", "confirmation / release", "all frame setting", and "all frame release" are displayed. Here, the user can enter the print specification related mode by operating the cross cursor button 32 and selecting one of the print specification related items.

First, the case where "frame setting" is selected will be described. When "Frame setting" is selected, the mode transits to the mode for specifying one frame printing. In this mode, during this mode selection, print designation of the frame being reproduced on the liquid crystal monitor 28 and designation of the number of prints are performed. The liquid crystal monitor 28 superimposes the reproduced image of the frame being reproduced on the monitor. 6
A number setting screen is displayed as shown in FIG. The number in the rectangular frame displayed at the center of this screen indicates the number of prints of the frame currently being reproduced on the LCD monitor 28,
The number of prints can be increased or decreased by a vertical operation of the cross cursor button 32. Here, if it is set to 0, the print designation is canceled, and if it is set to 1 or more, the print designation of that number is set (FIG. 6).
(C)). After the number of prints is set, when the execute button 46 is pressed, the number of prints of the frame being reproduced is determined.
After a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 6D is displayed for several seconds, FIG.
The screen returns to the print menu screen of (A).

On the other hand, if the cancel button 44 is pressed before the number of prints is determined, the setting contents of the number setting screen at this time are canceled, the original number of prints is maintained, and the print of FIG. Returns to the menu screen.

The frame to be reproduced on the liquid crystal monitor 28 can be switched by a left / right designation operation of the cross cursor button 32. By switching the frame to be reproduced and executing the above operation, the print designation of each frame can be made. It can be carried out. Further, by pressing the display button 42, the display on the liquid crystal monitor 28 can be switched between a single-frame display and a multi-display in which a plurality of frames are displayed at the same time. In this case, a frame to be designated for printing is selected by operating the cross cursor button 32. The selected frame is distinguished from other frames by a bold frame, for example, so that it can be easily confirmed.

When the number of prints of the reproduction frame is determined by the above operation, the CPU 66 additionally edits the print designation and the number of prints in the print information file, and records the print information file on the memory card 64.

The CPU 66 automatically changes the image file of one or more print-designated frames, ie, the image file of the print-designated frame, to a read-only file attribute in which deletion / change is prohibited. This prevents the image file of the frame designated for printing from being deleted. Note that the attributes of each image file are recorded in a predetermined management area of the memory card. The deletion of the image file can be performed by selecting the icon at the left end on the reproduction menu screen of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation and the processing procedure of the above-mentioned one-frame print designation. FIG. 6 (A)
When the “frame setting” is selected on the print menu screen and the designation of one-frame printing is started, the CPU 66
The screen for selecting the number of sheets shown in FIG.
8 is displayed. Here, first, the user looks at the reproduced image of the frame currently being reproduced on the liquid crystal monitor 28, and selects whether or not to print the reproduced frame (step S10). In the case of NO, a selection is made as to whether or not to change the playback frame (step S12). In the case of NO, that is, in the case where print designation is not performed, the cancel button 44 is depressed and the mode of one frame print designation is set To end.

On the other hand, if the result of step S12 is YES, that is, if the playback frame is to be changed, the playback frame is changed to 1 by the left / right designation operation of the cross cursor button 32.
Frame advance (step S14), steps S10 to S14
Is repeated to display a reproduced image of a desired frame on the liquid crystal monitor 28.

If the result of the above operation is YES in step S10, then the cross cursor button 3
The number of prints is set by increasing or decreasing the number of prints by the designation operation of the up and down direction of step 2 (step S16). Then, it is determined whether or not the number of prints has become a desired number of prints (step S18).
If NO, step S1 is performed until the desired number is reached.
6 and S18 are repeated. When the desired number is reached, the user presses the execution button 46 to determine the number of prints.

When the number of prints of the reproduced frame is determined in this way, the CPU 66 additionally edits the determined number of prints for the reproduced frame in a print information file and records the print information file on the memory card 64 (step S20). ).

Further, the CPU 66 checks the attribute of the image file of the frame designated for printing by the attribute data of the management area of the memory card 64 (step S22). File attribute), delete the image file /
The file attribute is changed to a file attribute whose change is prohibited, that is, a read-only file attribute (step S24). If the image file originally has the read-only file attribute, the attribute is not changed. The file attributes can be arbitrarily changed by the user under certain conditions in a protect mode described later.

When the above operations and processes are completed, the CPU
At 66, after the confirmation screen of FIG. 6D is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 28 for several seconds, the print menu screen of FIG. 6A is displayed again, and the one-frame print designation is completed.

Next, the case where "all frame setting" is selected on the print menu screen of FIG. 6A will be described. When "all frame setting" is selected, the mode transits to the all frame print designation mode. In this mode, a single print is specified for all the frames recorded in the memory card 64 being reproduced. By performing the print specification, a print service similar to the simultaneous print in the photo film is provided. Can be easily received.

When the mode transits to the all-frame print designation mode, a setting screen as shown in FIG. 8A is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 28. Here, simply specify whether to set all frame print designation or cancel.
When the execution button 46 is pressed on this setting screen, the print designation of all the frames is determined, and after a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 8B is displayed for several seconds, the display returns to the print menu screen of FIG. 6A. On the other hand, if the cancel button 44 is pressed on the setting screen of FIG. 8A, the setting of all-frame print designation is stopped.

When the print designation of all frames is determined by the above operation, the CPU 66 invalidates the number of prints of each frame recorded in the print information file so far, and the CPU 66 sets one print for every frame. Edit the print specification in the print information file. Then, the print information file is recorded on the memory card 64. Further, the CPU 66 changes the image files of all frames to read-only files, and prohibits deletion of all image files.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the above operation and processing procedure. When “all frame setting” is selected on the menu screen of FIG. 6A and designation of printing of all frames is started, the CPU 66 causes the liquid crystal monitor 28 to display the setting screen of FIG. On this setting screen, the user selects whether or not to print all frames (step S30). If NO, cancel button 4
Press 4 to end the all-frame print designation.

On the other hand, in the case of YES, the execution button 46
push. As a result, the CPU 66
The search for the image files of all the frames recorded in is started (step S32), and the print information file is additionally edited in the order of the searched image files so as to designate the print with one print (step S34).

Further, the CPU 66 checks the attribute of the image file being searched by the attribute data of the management area of the memory card 64 (step S36). The attribute is changed to a read-only file attribute (step S38).
If it is ES, there is no problem, so the process proceeds to the next process.

Next, the CPU 66 determines whether there is an image file of a frame not specified for printing (step S40), and in the case of YES, searches for an image file of the frame not specified for printing. (Step S4
2) The process from step S34 is repeatedly executed.
Accordingly, if NO is determined in the step S40, the CPU 66 records the created print information file on the memory card 64, displays the confirmation screen of FIG. A)
Is displayed again, and all frame print designation is completed.

As described above, the number of prints is designated as one for all frames.

Here, another embodiment relating to the above-described all-frame print designation will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the all-frame print designation. The all-frame print designation shown here is to designate one print at a time for frames for which print designation has not been made. When “all frame setting” is selected on the menu screen of FIG. 6A and designation of printing of all frames is started, the CPU 66 causes the liquid crystal monitor 28 to display the setting screen of FIG. On this setting screen, the user selects whether or not to print all frames (step S50). If NO, cancel button 44
Press to complete the all-frame print designation.

On the other hand, in the case of YES, the execution button 46
push. As a result, the CPU 66
Is searched for an image file of a frame for which printing is not specified among the image files of all the frames recorded in Step S.
52) The print information file is additionally edited so that the searched image file is designated to be printed with one print (step S54).

Further, the CPU 66 checks the attribute of the image file under search by the attribute data of the management area of the memory card 64 (step S56). If the image file has the normal file attribute, the image file is deleted. Change to read-only file attribute (step S58), while Y
If it is ES, there is no problem, so the process proceeds to the next process.

Next, the CPU 66 determines whether or not there is an image file for which printing has not been designated (step S60). In the case of YES, the process from step S52 is repeatedly executed. Thereby, step S6
When the CPU 66 determines NO, the CPU 66 records the created print information file on the memory card 64, displays the confirmation screen of FIG. 8B on the liquid crystal monitor 28 for a few seconds, and then prints the print information file of FIG. The menu screen is displayed again, and all frame print designation is completed.

As described above, the number of prints is not changed for a frame for which print designation has already been made, and a single print designation can be changed for a frame for which print designation has not been made.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment of the all-frame print designation. The all-frame print designation shown here is to increase the number of prints of all frames one by one. When “all frame setting” is selected on the menu screen of FIG. 6A and designation of printing of all frames is started, the CPU 66 causes the liquid crystal monitor 28 to display the setting screen of FIG. On this setting screen, the user selects whether or not to print all frames (step S70). In the case of NO, the cancel button 44 is pressed to end the all frame print designation.

On the other hand, in the case of YES, the execution button 46
push. As a result, the CPU 66
(Step S72), and in the order of the searched image files, the print information file is set so that the number of prints obtained by adding one to the current number of prints becomes the new number of prints. Is additionally edited (step S74).

The CPU 66 checks the attribute of the image file being searched for using the attribute data in the management area of the memory card 64 (step S76). The attribute is changed to a read-only file attribute (step S78).
If it is ES, there is no problem, so the process proceeds to the next process.

Next, the CPU 66 determines whether or not there is an image file of a frame not specified for printing (step S80). If YES, the CPU 66 searches for an image file of the frame not specified for printing. (Step S8
2) The process from step S74 is repeatedly executed.
Accordingly, if NO is determined in the step S80, the CPU 66 records the created print information file on the memory card 64 and displays the confirmation screen of FIG. The print menu screen of) is displayed again, and the print designation for all frames is completed.

As described above, the number of prints of all frames can be added together by one.

In the above-described method of specifying all frames, the number of prints is set collectively for all the frames recorded on the memory card 64. A plurality of frames to be processed may be selected in advance on a multi-screen or the like, and print designation may be made collectively for only the selected frames.

Next, a case where “confirm / cancel” is selected on the menu screen of FIG. 6A will be described.
When "confirm / cancel" is selected, the mode transits to the mode for canceling one print. In this mode, the image file of the frame designated for printing is reproduced or the print designation is released. The liquid crystal monitor 28 superimposes the image on a predetermined reproduced image designated for printing, as shown in FIG. In this manner, the character "OK?" Is displayed to confirm whether the print designation of the display image can be released.

The image of a frame reproduced on the liquid crystal monitor 28 can be switched to an image of another frame whose print is designated by a designation operation of the cross cursor button 32 in the left-right direction. It is possible to select a frame whose print designation is to be canceled, and to confirm the image of the frame designated for printing by performing only this operation.

By turning on the display button 42, the image of the frame designated for printing can be switched to the multi-display, and the outline of the frame to be deleted is displayed in a thick frame on this multi-display screen.

As described above, the user confirms the image of the frame whose print has been designated by the designation operation of the cross cursor button 32 in the left and right direction, and when the image whose print designation is to be canceled is displayed on the LCD monitor 28. Presses the execute button 46 while the image is displayed. Thereby, the print designation of the frame is released. After pressing the execution button 46, a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 12B is displayed for several seconds, and then the screen returns to the menu display screen of FIG. 6A. Before pressing the execution button 46 on the display screen of FIG.
Pressing returns to the menu display screen of FIG.

When the print designation is released by the above operation, the CPU 66 additionally edits a print information file such that the number of prints becomes 0, and records the print information file on the memory card 64.

Next, the case where "all frame release" is selected on the menu screen of FIG. 6A will be described.
When "all frame release" is selected, the mode transits to a mode of all frame print designation release. In this mode, the print designation of all frames is collectively released, and the liquid crystal monitor 28 confirms whether the print designation of all frames may be released as shown in FIG. "OK?" Is displayed.

The user presses the execution button 46 when canceling printing of all frames. As a result, the print designation of all frames is released, a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 13B is displayed, and then the screen returns to the menu display screen of FIG. 6A. If the cancel button 44 is pressed before the execute button 46 is pressed, the setting becomes invalid, and FIG.
The screen returns to the menu screen (A).

When the print designation is released by the above operation, the CPU 66 sets the number of prints of all the frames to 0.
The print information file is edited so that the number of sheets becomes one, and the print information file is recorded on the memory card 64.

Next, the case where the "protect" icon is selected on the reproduction menu screen shown in FIG. 5 will be described. When the “Protect” icon is selected on the playback menu screen, the protection mode is set, and FIG.
4 (A) is displayed. The protect mode is for changing the attributes of an image file to a normal file attribute that can be deleted / changed, and a read-only file attribute that is prohibited from being deleted / changed. The protected image file is read-only. The image file that has been set to the file attribute and the protection has been released is set to a normal file.

FIG. 14 shows the protect menu screen.
As shown in (A), related items such as “set one frame”, “protect all frames”, and “cancel all frames” are displayed.
Here, by operating the cross cursor button 32 and selecting one of the related items, the related item is executed.

First, the case where "1 frame setting" is selected will be described. When "1 frame setting" is selected on the protect menu screen by the cross cursor button 32 and the execution button 46 is pressed, the protection state of the frame being reproduced on the liquid crystal monitor 28 is changed. That is, each time the execution button 46 is pressed, the protection and the release of the protection are changed by toggle. When the execute button 46 is pressed, a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 14B is displayed.

Frames to be protected or unprotected can be switched by displaying a desired frame on the liquid crystal monitor 28 by, for example, a left / right designation operation of the cross cursor button 32 in the same manner as in the above print designation. Since it is possible, protection and release of protection can be set for each frame.

Here, when an attempt is made to release the protection for a frame designated to be printed in the above-mentioned print information file, a warning is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 28 and the release of the protection is prohibited. .
This prevents deletion of the image file of the frame specified to be printed in the print information file, and prevents a problem that the image file of the frame specified to be printed does not exist.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation and processing procedure at this time. On the protect menu screen shown in FIG.
The user selects whether to set (change) the protection of the frame being reproduced (step S90), and if so, selects "1 frame setting" and presses the execution button 46.
If no change is made, the process ends without pressing the execution button 46.

When the execute button 46 is pressed, the CPU 66 refers to the print information file recorded on the memory card 64 and checks whether or not the frame reproduced on the liquid crystal monitor 28 is designated for printing ( Step S92). If the print is not designated, the image file of the frame is changed from the current file attribute (step S94). That is, if the attribute is a normal file attribute at present, the attribute is changed to a read-only file attribute. If the attribute is a read-only file attribute at present, the attribute is changed to a normal file attribute.

On the other hand, when the reproduction frame is designated for printing, the change of the file attribute, that is, the change to the normal file attribute is prohibited, and a warning is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 28 (step S96).

When the above processing is completed, the screen returns to the protect menu screen shown in FIG.

As a result, the release of protection of the image file designated for printing is prohibited, and the problem that the image file designated for printing is inadvertently deleted is reliably prevented.

Next, a case where an item other than "1 frame setting" on the protect menu screen shown in FIG. 14A is selected will be described. First, when "all frame protection" is selected and the execution button 46 is pressed, an all frame protection confirmation screen is displayed as shown in FIG. Here, when the execute button 46 is pressed, the image files of all the frames are collectively changed to the read-only file attribute, and FIG.
The screen returns to the protect menu screen. On the other hand, if the cancel button 44 is pressed, the screen returns to the protect menu screen of FIG. 14A without changing the file attribute.

On the other hand, when "all frame release" is selected and the execution button 46 is pressed, an all frame release confirmation screen is displayed as shown in FIG. Here, when the execute button 46 is pressed, the CP
U66 refers to the print information file recorded on the memory card 64, and checks whether any frame has not been designated for printing. If no frames are designated for printing, the image files of all the frames are changed to normal file attributes, and the screen returns to the protect menu screen of FIG. On the other hand, if any frame is designated to be printed, a warning is displayed on the LCD monitor 28 to prohibit the change of the file attribute, and FIG.
The screen returns to the protect menu screen. This prevents the image file of the frame designated for printing from being deleted. In addition, only the protection of a frame for which printing is not specified may be released. When the cancel button 44 is pressed on the all frame release confirmation screen of FIG. 17, the protection release is stopped, and the screen returns to the protect menu screen of FIG.

As described above, by prohibiting the release of the protection of the image file of the frame designated to be printed, the problem that the image file designated to be printed is deleted is prevented beforehand.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, if the print designation of a frame once designated for printing is released later, the image file of that frame is maintained in a protected state. However, not limited to this,
When the print designation is released, the protection may be released at the same time. Alternatively, when the print designation is released, the user may select whether to release the protection.

In the above-described embodiment, the image file of the frame designated for printing is automatically protected. On the contrary, the image file of the protected frame is automatically designated for printing. You may do so.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, in the case of all-frame print designation, one print is designated for each frame. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of prints can be arbitrarily set. You may do so.

In the above embodiment, only the number of prints is set as the information of the print information file. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other information defined by the DPOF standard such as trimming can be set. It may be.

[0093]

According to the present invention, the image file of a frame designated for printing is automatically changed to a read-only file attribute, so that the image file of a frame designated for printing is inadvertently deleted. Thus, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the image file does not exist despite the print designation.

Further, since all the frames can be designated for printing at once, the operation for specifying the printing of all the frames becomes easy, and the setting for receiving the same service as the simultaneous printing on the photo film becomes easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an appearance of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the external appearance of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a playback menu screen.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D respectively show a print menu screen, a print number setting screen for one-frame print designation, a print number setting screen after changing the print number, and FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a confirmation screen after the number of prints is determined.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a single-frame print designation operation and a processing procedure;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are a print number setting screen for designating all-frame print and a confirmation screen after the print number is determined, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation and a processing procedure for designating all-frame printing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of an operation and a processing procedure for all-frame print designation.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of an operation and a processing procedure for designating all-frame printing.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams showing a display screen when executing confirmation / cancellation of print designation and a confirmation screen after execution of cancellation of print designation, respectively.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing a display screen in an all-frame print designation release mode and a confirmation screen after execution of all-frame print designation release, respectively.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams respectively showing a protect menu screen and a confirmation screen after execution of one frame setting of protect.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation and a processing procedure for setting one frame for protection.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a confirmation screen of all frame protection.

FIG. 17 is a confirmation screen after execution of all frame release of protection;

[Explanation of symbols]

28 LCD monitor, 30 Mode switch, 32 Cross cursor button, 42 Display button, 44 Cancel button, 46 Menu / Execute button, 52 Solid-state image sensor (CCD), 54 Analog signal processing circuit, 58
... Digital signal processing circuit, 60 ... Memory (DRAM),
62: compression / expansion circuit, 64: memory card, 66: central processing unit (CPU)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/781 H04N 5/91 J 5/91 H

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera for recording an image of each frame picked up by an image pickup means on a recording medium as an image file, wherein print information for each frame referred to when printing the image recorded on the recording medium is created. Print information creating means, print information recording means for recording the print information of each frame created by the print information creating means on the recording medium as one print information file, and print information created by the print information creating means When at least one or more prints are designated by the information on the number of prints of each frame, the image file of the designated frame can only be read from the normal file attribute that can be deleted / changed. Attribute changing means for changing to a read-only file attribute; Digital camera, characterized in that the. 2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an attribute setting unit configured to arbitrarily set an image file of each frame recorded on the recording medium to a normal file attribute or a read-only file attribute. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the image file of the set frame cannot be changed to a normal file attribute by the attribute setting unit. 3. When the print designation is canceled for a frame designated to be printed by print information recorded on the recording medium, the image file of the frame is changed to a normal file attribute. Claim 1
Digital camera. 4. The image file of a frame designated by the print information recorded on the recording medium is not changed to a normal file attribute even when the print designation is released. The digital camera according to claim 1. 5. When the print designation is released for a frame designated by the print information recorded on the recording medium, a selection is made as to whether or not to change the image file of the frame to a normal file attribute. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein 6. A display device for recording, on a recording medium, an image of each frame captured by the imaging unit and information on the number of prints of each frame to be referred to when printing the image, and a display unit for displaying the image. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a reproduction function of displaying, on the display unit, only an image for which one or more prints are designated by the information on the number of prints. 7. A digital camera for recording, on a recording medium, an image of each frame picked up by an image pickup means and information on the number of prints of each frame referred to when printing the image. A digital camera, comprising: a total frame print number setting unit that collectively sets the number of prints for an image of a frame. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the total number of prints setting unit sets the number of prints to one.
Digital camera. 9. A print number setting means for setting the number of prints for each frame of an image of each frame recorded on the recording medium, the total print number setting means comprising: 8. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the number of prints of all frames is set to one regardless of the number of prints of each frame set by the number-of-prints setting means. 10. A frame number setting means for setting the number of prints for each frame of an image of each frame recorded on the recording medium, wherein the total frame number of prints setting means comprises the 0
8. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the number of prints is set to one for only one frame. 11. A frame print number setting means for setting the number of prints for each frame with respect to an image of each frame recorded on the recording medium, wherein the total frame print number setting means comprises: 8. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the number of prints of all frames is added one by one to the number of prints of each frame set by the number-of-prints setting means.